Journey's End by R.C. Sherriff

Stevenage Amateur Dramatic Society

By V Richards

These photos and the programme are for a production by the Stevenage Amateur Dramatic Society of the play "Journey's End" by the English playwright R. C. Sherriff.

The play was performed in the Town Hall, which at that time was in Orchard Road.

Although the programme doesn't give a year for this production, I believe it was 1934, as in that year the 25th and 26th May fell on a Friday and Saturday. I have also based this on the age of the only actor who I recognise - the soldier on the left of the first picture is Peter Vincent, who would have been 18 in 1934.

The cast list reads:- R.H. Walker, H.F. Piper, W.F. Ive, K.O. Mumby, C.E.G. Mumby, M.M. Hordern, P.J. Vincent, C.L. Tubbs, A.W. Sherriff, O.A. Pollard, W. Clarke. The play was produced by Mildred Shingler.

The actor “M.M. Hordern” was Michael Murray Hordern, later the famous and respected actor Sir Michael Hordern. At the time of this production he was working at the Educational Supply Association (“E.S.A.”) in Fairview Road. Gradually amateur dramatics began to take up most of his time and in 1936 he became a professional actor (additional material from the Daily Telegraph obituary of 4 May 1995).

"Journey's End" was first performed in London in 1928, and was made into a film in 1930.